December 8, 2004
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University lost a hard-fought, heartbreaking 69-64 men’s basketball overtime decision to visiting VMI Wednesday night in Willett Hall. The Lancers, still winless at 0-9, were outscored 9-4 in the extra OT period by the Keydets who improved to 4-1 while escaping with the win. Longwood was led by sophomore Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) with a game-high 23 points, while VMI was led by freshman Reggie Williams with 21 points. LU will travel to California this weekend, Dec. 10-11, playing the University of San Francisco in the Northwestern Mutual Shootout Friday night at 11 p.m., while VMI will host Towson on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. in Lexington.
Into overtime at 60-60, VMI scored two quick baskets to lead 64-60 at 3:35 on layups from Williams and Fred Robinson. LU closed to 64-62 at 2:53 on a pair of free throws by sophomore Leland Beale/Poquoson (Oak Ridge, N.C. Military Academy). The Keydets went ahead 66-62 at 2:07 on another layup from Robinson, before the Lancers climbed within 66-64 with just 27-seconds left on a layup by Jefferson. VMI missed two free throws at :18, but an offensive foul against the hosts gave the ball back to the visitors and Williams secured the win with a free throw at :09. Robinson added two more free throws with three-seconds left for the final outcome. VMI could manage just 3-12 free throws in the OT in front of a loud and boisterous crowd of 1,637.
Longwood and VMI battled closely throughout the contest with seven lead changes, and seven ties. The Lancers opened the contest with five-straight points to lead 5-0 at 18:37 behind three points from junior Chad Kosmo/Northport, Maine (Maine Central Institute). VMI took its first lead at 9-7 with 14:43 on the clock, and extended the margin to 18-9 at 11:50 behind seven points from Williams. LU rallied back with a 14-5 run to lead 23-22 at 6:30 on a lay-up from freshman Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton). Sophomore Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) sparked the run with eight of his 12 first-half points. The two teams battled back-and-forth the remainder of the half before a three-pointer from Jefferson gave Longwood a 32-29 lead with just 12-seconds left, only to have Keydet Matt Coward nail a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 32-32 at the intermission. Coward matched Sumter with 12 first-half points.
In the second half, VMI opened up a nine-point lead again at 43-34 with 15:21 left, getting seven quick points from Levar Joseph. Longwood, however, fought right back with a 21-10 run to take its first lead of the period at 55-53 on a jumper by Sumter with 8:39 on the clock. The Lancers used a 10-0 run while taking a 59-53 lead at 5:18, capped by a dunk from Kosmo. The Keydets again rallied with a 7-1 advantage over the final 4:57 to force overtime. A free throw by Jefferson at 3:31 gave LU its final lead at 60-57. A free throw by VMI’s Tim Allmond tied the game at 60-60 with 1:40 remaining, and both teams could not convert on scoring opportunities during the final minute of regulation.
Jefferson led Longwood with his season-high 23 points, adding seven rebounds and four steals. Sumter finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Kosmo just missed a double-double with career-highs of 11 points and nine rebounds for the Lancers. LU shot 41% (28-69) from the field, including just 1-13 on three-pointers, and 47% (7-15) at the line.
Williams led VMI with his career-high 21 points, while Coward finished with 15 points, five assists, and three steals. Allmond had nine points and eight rebounds for the Keydets. VMI shot 39% (27-69) from the field, including 32% (6-19) on three-pointers, and 39% (9-23) at the line.
